“If India bats well, we have a chance”: Sourav Ganguly ahead of Anderson-Tendulkar trophy

Sourav Ganguly’s Interview on RevSportz

June 9 2025, on Monday 

Sourav Ganguly did an interview with RevSportz regarding the upcoming India vs England 5 match test series

Ganguly on the team’s chance

When asked if the Indian team had a chance, Ganguly said that if the team bats well and Jasprit Bumrah stays fit, they can certainly win. 

Ganguly added that in 2020-2021 in the Melbourne test neither Rohit Sharma nor Virat Kohli were playing, but the Indian team still won. “We won in Australia, in Melbourne (2020-21), with a young batting line-up, having no (Virat) Kohli, no Rohit Sharma. So, I do not see why we cannot win,” Ganguly said.

Sourav Ganguly on Rishabh Pant

Ganguly mentioned that while Rishabh is a good player, the way he played in Australia was not up to the mark. He also said that Pant kept on swinging his bat and played too many shots. 

He said that the young batter certainly has the ability, but he needs to learn the application. Said he wants to see more fight from him. “The ball decked around at certain venues. He has got the ability, there is no doubt about that, but it’s about the application. I want to see some more fight from him,” Ganguly said.

He said that Pant’s defence is good. “He’s got a very good defence. So, he has to defend.”

Ganguly on Shubman Gill

Ganguly started off by saying that Shubman will work on his batting. Also added it was amazing- “how things change over a period is unbelievable” 

Said that he needs to fight in these conditions. “He is the key senior member, captain, he’s also got to fight in these conditions. These are not conditions where you just hit through the line. It’s going to seam, swing, and the new ball will be different. There can be times when India is 10 for 2, and he has to come and play the new ball, so the application will be different. So, these conditions will test them and make them too,” Ganguly said.

Regarding Shubman’s batting, Ganguly said he needs to score runs when the ball is seaming or swinging. Said that he needs to defend and learn to leave balls outside the off stump. Added that England’s a place where he needs to be on his front foot a lot. 

“Batting at 100 for 2 and 20 for 4 are two different things, so he has to get the defence right, learn how to leave deliveries outside the off stump. England is a place where you need to be on the front foot quite a bit. It’s not Australia or South Africa, where you can hang on the back foot and still play. In New Zealand and England, it’s going to swing and seam, so you’ve got to be on the front foot and have a good defence. You’ve got to fight here, where the first hour, post lunch, post tea would be different. So, you can’t be 50-4 in the first two hours. You’ve got to be 50-1, then you are in a position to win the Test match, and I think that’s where India needs to be,” Ganguly told RevSportz on Monday.

Ganguly on Sai Sudarshan

He said that nothing is stopping the youngsters from being superstars. Said that he wants to see “good, tough, (and) tight batting” in these conditions. 

“Rahul (Dravid) and I came in 1996 and went back as two successful players, so nothing stops Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair. They can return as superstars. For me, it is an opportunity, as there is nothing as pressure in sports. It is always an opportunity. In simple language, I want to see good, tough, tight batting in these conditions. Not hit through the line, not hit on the up, not play the loose shot outside off stump, because these conditions will test them,” Ganguly said.

Ganguly said that Sai Sudarshan is a very good player but IPL and Test cricket in England is very different. Mentioned that Sudarshan has the “technique and temperament” and scores well in big matches. Said that he wants the young batter to fight hard and “get through the new ball as he is a top-order batsman.”

Ganguly on Kuldeep Yadav.

Said he definitely wants him in the playing 11. “He (Kuldeep) spins the ball back into the right-hander, which is never easy.”

Also said that Yadav may not get a place in the playing 11 “at this stage” or at Lords but adds,  “Maybe in Manchester when it starts getting dry and it’s the end of summer. I believe if seven batsmen cannot do the job, the eighth can’t as well. So, the top order has to take responsibility.

Sourav Ganguly on Shreyas Iyer

Ganguly said Iyer has been playing his best in the past one year. Added that he should’ve been on the team. “He isn’t the player who got left out. He is now scoring under pressure, taking responsibility, playing the short ball well. Although Test cricket’s different, I would have had him in this series to see what he can do,” Ganguly said

Shreyas iyer the most improved batsman in last 1 yr .. ready for all formats . Great to see his improvement after a few issues on length @ShreyasIyer15 @bcci

— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) March 25, 2025

Ganguly on Bumrah and how to use him

Ganguly said a fit Bumrah is important for India to win the series. Said that Shubman needs to understand not bowl Bumrah “to the ground.” Mentioned that Bumrah needs to bowl short spells, and be used as a wicket-taking bowler.

He also said that it is important for the other bowlers to play their part.

He added later that Bumrah should not bowl more than 12 or 13 overs a day. “Others will have to be the warhorses like Siraj, Arshdeep. Not sure about Nitish or Shardul Thakur. Maybe they can get some runs with the bat, but I think India need to back the seven batters and then back the bowlers, because we need 20 wickets to win Test matches,” he said.

Finally, he said that as far as red-ball cricket is concerned, it is a very important series for Gautam Ghambhir, having lost the last two test matches India has played.

The trophy

It was made in 2007 by Jocelyn Burton, who was an award-winning British goldsmith 

The trophy was first made to mark 75 years since India and England played their first Test match in 1932.

The trophy was originally named after Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, the only cricketer to have played for both India and England in tests. In 2025, the trophy was renamed after the cricketing great Sachin Tendulkar, India’s former batsman and the leading wicket-taker among pace bowlers James Anderson, former England pacer.

India will be taking on England on the 20th of June at the Headingley Carnegie stadium in England